Have you ever visited the CN tower? Nem Vas and Taylor Wright of Aurora, Ont., make an annual trip to Toronto’s iconic structure–running. As a fundraiser for the Aurora Food Pantry, the pair runs the marathon distance annually, beginning at The Filly and Co. Pub in Aurora and running straight down Yonge Street into downtown Toronto. This year, their marathon journey gained overwhelming support from residents and businesses within the community, raising more than $11,000.
Vas, a bartender at The Filly going on thirteen years, began his third annual marathon at 4:35 a.m. on Aug. 24 and ended five hours later in Toronto. He then retuned to the neighbourhood pub for his 10-hour shift. Wright was unable to run this year due to an injury, but hopes to give it a shot over the long weekend. The two initially set out with a fundraising goal of $5,000, but have already more than doubled that number with one day left in the campaign.
“Every year we’ve surpassed our goal, which is mind blowing every time–this year especially,” Wright says. “Achieving this means so much to me–it’s a direct reflection of our community’s generosity and support.”
Vas and Wright have been friends for eight years, after meeting at the local pub–a popular spot for many families in Aurora. Two years ago, the two set out on their first-ever trek to the heart of Toronto with the aim of raising money to fill the shelves at the Aurora Food Pantry and help families struggling with food insecurity. The pair raised $6,000 the first year, and $8,000 the second year.
Wright says that she has always loved running, and while the two of them occasionally go on runs together, the charity marathon is the only full marathon either of them have ever run. “I think we initially wanted to check (the marathon) off the bucket list, but knew we wanted to do it our own way,” she says, revealing that the idea came from YouTuber Beau Miles, who ran 42km on his 42nd birthday. “He took it easy and enjoyed the run and stopped along the way to admire his hometown, so we got inspiration from that,” Wright says.
Wanting to make a difference in their hometown communities, they both agreed to choose Aurora’s food bank as the charity, the town in which Wright had grown up and Vas lived there for a short period, before moving to Barrie. The pair thinks that the posters and QR codes they posted around town and at The Shed (where Wright works), were effective in spreading the news of their charitable cause and gaining support from the community. Wright remarks that the York Regional Police Association were generous to make a donation as well.
“Big or small, every donation counts. I know that the food bank is always in need, especially in the summertime,” Wright says. “I think I can say for the both of us how proud we are of our community coming together like this–locals from The Filly, family and friends.”
You can donate to their fundraising marathon to support the Aurora Food Pantry by visiting their fundraising page here.
